Compare towns
Epping vs Appleton vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Epping | Appleton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
1,360Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 122% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Appleton Public Schools | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.